CHR: Rape incident involving a police officer impacts PNP's credibility, ability to protect women

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) urged the Philippine National Police to strengthen safeguarding of women's rights and to strongly rebuke any violence against women committed by PNP members.

The CHR was referring to the report that a police woman was allegedly raped by a PNP training officer inside the Joint Maritime Law Enforcement Training Center in Puerto Princesa.

The rape suspect, who was an assistant instructor, was arrested after the policewoman immediately reported the incident to her course director.

"It is appalling that such transgression was recently committed by a police officer towards his subordinate," CHR spokesperson Jacqueline de Guia said in a statement on Wednesday.

"This not only violates the code of conduct of government workers but also greatly impacts the credibility and ability of the police to protect women if such violation happens from within the PNP hierarchy," she added.

The Commission believes the police "must serve as role model and frontline protector in safeguarding human rights including women's rights" and that "any violence against women transpiring within the police ranks must be strongly rebuked."

The CHR called for "expedient action" on the incident and urged that similar violations "be included in the internal cleansing efforts of the organization."

"Perpetrators must also be brought to criminal courts to fully bring justice to victims," De Guia said.

"We also hope that the PNP will establish more practices and policies that will create an organizational culture and a workplace that is conducive for women and women-clients," she added. — BAP, GMA News